Artistic Excellence 2016 | Honorable Mention: Yunsung Jang

New York

What inspired your winning entry? Sori is a friend of mine. I like her expression, demeanor, and personality, which inspired me to paint her.

How would you describe your style? A style is often described as a language. In those terms, I’m not interested in a way to speak; I’m interested in what is being said.

How did you first get interested in art? When I was little I enjoyed watching cartoons, and I used to doodle a lot.

Where did you study art? The Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the New York Academy of Art

Did you pursue other careers before you became a full-time artist? I used to be a computer engineer.

What artists have influenced your work? Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

What’s the most meaningful recognition you’ve received for your artwork? The Visitor’s Choice award in the annual BP Portrait Award competition at London’s National Portrait Gallery.

What inspires you to paint a scene? Nothing in particular. It is hard to explain, but when something moves me, I just want to express it.

What is your creative process? I’m more interested in the process than the result. That being said, the process is integrated into my daily life. I often struggle between my expectations of the result while still being present in the moment. I appreciate when my process is spontaneous and improvisational.

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be? A film director.

What is one thing you’ll never paint?
I don’t want to limit my subject matter, because anything can be interesting depending on how it is presented.

When you’re not painting, what do you enjoy doing? I enjoy reading, listening to classical music, and humming.

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Gradually, the artist found less and less satisfaction in merely “painting what I thought would sell.” That’s when he began turning back to the mostly American Indian-inspired figurative works that the East Coast gallery owner had warned him to avoid.